#the death mage

[larathia]

For the record, The Death Mage Who Doesn't Want A Fourth Time may wind up being the only webnovel/LN series that I've wound up loving purely for the translator's notes.

Like - there's some aspects of the story I genuinely appreciate. The main one is that it's rare for me to read a story where two sides hate each other this understandably; Vandalieu has straight up got excellent reasons to take the positions he does, while at the same time Rodcorte has pretty okay reasons to make the mistakes he does and Alda has solid reasons to oppose Vandalieu. It's a kind of conflict where "get everyone around a table and make them talk" not only probably wouldn't work, it could pretty easily set off a world war. I appreciate that. There's a few places where there's some Stupid in the motivations, but even there, the Stupid arises from pretty understandable emotions. Even without that, the three factions would definitely be having Serious Problems with each other.

But what keeps me laughing is the poor fan translator having to break the story over and over because the writer has this inordinate love of Japanese puns and phrases that he's got to explain because they don't translate.

[theanimeview]

[Commentary] Revisiting Problematic: Jobless Reincarnation Vs. The Death Mage

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184348670012

DISCLAIMER: This post contains content that we at The Anime View do not think is suitable for everyone. The genre of the work being reviewed is ecchi. Possible triggers or subjects could include sexual assault and pedophilia. There are no images of such, but these topics are discussed. By clicking “Keep Reading,” you understand that you may encounter such content. Viewer/reader discretion is advised.

By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

If you know me, you know that I hate Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. In a previous post, I claimed that it was a hentai series that bordered on pedophilia and labeled my distaste for conversations that try to defend the work for its art and storytelling while ignoring how that art and storytelling create the problematic features I just described. In response, some argued that the series was merely ecchi and insisted again on its great storytelling. I must admit that I was wrong about the classification. It is not officially considered a hentai but an ecchi. However, that is not much better as it still sexualizes young, underdeveloped children. #gross

I stand by my belief that the story of Jobless Reincarnation is not so great as to overlook the parts that sexualize children. The art also emphasizes this focus, and it is not just fan service. I am alarmed that some members of the community confuse the two.

I have tried to find a comparable title that I think does a better job of being overt yet suggestive, and I think I have with The Death Mage Who Doesn’t Want a Fourth Time. (Let me give a quick thank you to one of my friend’s who recommended The Death Mage, which I think fits well into this discussion–I know you don’t want to be named/tagged, but I do appreciate you reading the different titles and providing a reasonable selection for my more conservative sensibilities. 🙇🏻‍♀️)

The Death Mage follows the journey of Vandalieu, a half-vampire and half-dark elf being with a unique skill of death magic. Essentailly, he’s a necromancer and a very powerful one at that. He’s already been killed for it before, and in his newest life he’s found more suffering as a result of the skill and his own bloodline. Compared to Rudeus from Jobless Reincarnation, Vandalieu is more mature and has a clear sense of purpose and a series of specific challenges that stem an external source. The story deals with themes such as finding your place, death, loneliness, and betrayal, with more serious and darker approach than Jobless Reincarnation‘s exploration of similar ideas. There are many obstacles to Vandalieu’s path, including his former classmates that have also reincarnated with him in these new worlds, and the god of this story, who is managing these cycles seems intent on Vandalieu’s suffering.

Image-wise, The Death Mage certainly depicts more risky costuming. Most of the adult women having a large chest and revealing clothes, even nudity at times, but the coverage is enough to meet today’s standards of a bathing suit or lingerie. Even moments of nudity are covered by speech bubbles/text or are made unsexualized by the context. For example, breastfeeding is depicted in both works, but where Rudeus makes a show of sexualizing his mother in this moment and continuing to do so as the story progresses, Vandalieu sees it as an embarrassing and strange experience.

I think that is what really sets the two apart. In The Death Mage, scenes are suggestive, but the tone makes clear distinctions about when the suggestiveness of the attire for characters is the focus and when readers should be paying attention to the story. Compared to Jobless Reincarnation, the overt sexualizing is relatively mild and infrequent and on adult character. I have seen some readers claim it to be a series alright for mature, general audiences while not being appropriate for younger readers or those who are sensitive to violence and mature themes and I can see their argument (I disagree, but I see it). Of course, I have seen the same argument for Jobless Reincarnation, but I strongly disagree on that front and do not understand it still. To be clear, both series hold strongly suggestive materials, stong enough to border on pornographic–but one chooses adults as a focus, and another chooses a mix of children and adults. I don’t think I have to explain further why that is a noticeable and important difference.

There are other notable differences too, but also similarities, as I’ve mentioned above. Both series depict a deep and intricate magic system, which plays an important role in the story’s world-building, and both are in the ecchi genre. They are clearly, different stories with different leads, but have similar themes. It is these elements that I think makes them comparable, in addition to how they frame the sexualization of female characters. One series more acceptable than the other because the content draws a line on what is okay and what isn’t, and I think that the larger fan community would do well to recognize the differences and how some perpetrate the “merits” of these stories while ignore negative elements.

On a final note: Would I recommend either of these works? Absolutely not. I don’t like the genre or their individual stories enough to promote them as recommended reads. There are better reads/watches out there. I decided upon making this post because Jobless Reincarnation got another adaptation this past July that is going on right now and I see way too many people continuing to ignore its problematic traits in praising its “story” when there are better works out there. I believe, as I have before, that it one of the worst of the worst series to gain the kind of general following that it has and that it highlights a dark undertone to the anime fandom community. With that, I will now excuse myself to try to find a new way to forget this series entirely and clean myself from the gross feeling I got reviewing this for the post. 🖐️🎤 &✌️ 📤

[hejee]

stop staring and help him 😭

[rayllurn]

[froggos-are-superior]

Webtoon screenshots out of context: part 5

[ex-textura]

Maybe Lucanis deserves a little sensual intimacy maybe the necromancer needs la petite (della)mort(e)

[longelk]

pike+

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

You ever think about how in spite of knowing their exact locations, the game never gives any indication that templar Carver has reported his mage sibling, Merril (a blood mage) or Anders (an abomination) to his superiors?

I do think about that a lot, even though I tend to ignore the Templar Carver route because I know Warden Carver to be true in my heart and soul... but I totally get the appeal of Templar Carver within DA2's narrative, y'know?

It's so fascinating, really. I've never played a run with Templar Carver, I just can't bring myself to do it, so I know I'm missing out on smaller details of it. From what I do know, this drives me crazy in the best way possible.

Deciding whether to bring him or not to the Deep Roads is such an important choice, not only because it affects his fate, but how it affects his relationship to Hawke. He tells you that he wants to go, he makes it very clear that it's important to him that he goes, too... and Hawke can just leave him behind and it hurts him. I don't think that registers enough with some people just because of how Carver is, like it doesn't matter what Hawke's motivations are [staying behind for his safety, not wanting to bring him, thinking someone should stay with Leandra, etc] it still hurts him because it tells him that Hawke doesn't need him, and Carver wants to be needed.

And yes, there are other contributing factors to why he joins the templars, but it doesn't matter what your relationship is to him, it doesn't change the fact that he doesn't turn Hawke or his companions in.

Sure, the meta reason is it's a video game and you're playing the main character. You're never in any actual danger of being captured by templars, and you're not going to lose your companions to them that easy.

But if we look at it through the narrative and Carver's character, that's when it gets interesting. You can max out his rivalry and be an utter asshole to him [there's a point where you can call him a brat and mock him for being stuck in your shadow, like Hawke can be real cruel about it] but it doesn't matter, you're still his sibling. He even makes a remark about how you might not know what that means [referring to leaving him behind] but he does. He refuses to kill Hawke in the end when Meredith makes the order, too.

Which can I just point out that Hawke has the option to let Bethany die in the end if she's with the circle and they side with the templars? Just saying, Carver NEVER does that no matter what, but Hawke has the option to betray Bethany like that and it's fucked and interesting and it makes me want to eat my chair-

As for Merrill and Anders, I think he knows that if he turns either of them in, then the chances of Hawke being brought in as well skyrocket. They're all friends, they're in the same group... bring one in, and you'll probably get the other two.

I also think Carver just genuinely likes Merrill. Yes, I'm a Carver/Merrill shipper, so I have a bias, but even if you remove anything romantic from their dynamic I believe that's true. Of all the companions, Merrill is the only one who doesn't make fun of him, or find him annoying, in party banters. He never snaps back at her, like he's never defensive with her, he's just a little awkward and nice.

Like, HE'S SO NICE TO HER! He tries to find common ground with her! She asks him about "swording" and he's taken aback by her saying he's good at it, but you KNOW that if someone like Anders asked him the same question, he's be all, "shut up, you're stupid, stop talking to me >:["

Think back to that banter Carver can have with Aveline post-act 1 where they're talking about how the guard wasn't the right place for him [hard disagree with you there, Aveline] and Carver says he was a bit of a tit, wasn't he.... and every companion will agree except Merrill. She doesn't say anything, whereas other companions like Anders will be like "ugh maker YES" and if you have a purple Hawke, they'll go on to other ways Carver was a tit like?? I think Carver and Merrill got along and he doesn't want to turn her in because she was nice to him! And she's a blood mage! He knows what will happen to her if the templars get ahold of her! He doesn't want to see her made tranquil or killed!

At that point, he's witnessed what bad blood mages can do, assuming you've brought him along for those quests, but even so. He knows Merrill isn't like that and he likes her, so of course he's not going to turn her in despite that being his literal duty.

Then there's Anders who Carver doesn't like. If you're in a romance with him, Carver will tell him that's why he doesn't turn him in but c'mon Carver, you know that's not the only reason. My theory is Carver may not like Anders and he knows the man's got a spirit of justice inside of him... but Anders also runs a free clinic. If he's ever taken in by templars, then so many people [including a LOT of Fereldan refugees] will be without free health care and will suffer for it. I think in Carver's eyes, Anders might be irritating but he doesn't more good than harm. Carver knows first hand how shitty refugees and poorer people are treated in Kirkwall. Anders' clinic is the one place they can go for help and actually get it, and he's not going to be the one to take that away because the templars say "magic bad."

So yeah, I'm not as informed about the Templar Carver route, but I do think about how if I did do that route, he wouldn't betray Hawke or their companions no matter what and what that says about him.

[robinmage]

It's curious to me, how the general consensus among others when it comes to Chise's curses are "bad; we need to get rid of it (we just don't know how.)" Which, considering they are both curses made of pain and suffering, makes sense why someone wouldn't want to keep those around.

We (the audience) know vaguely how the curses interact with each other. The dragon's curse: made from strong emotions of anger and despair, provides Chise with her strength and durability against both magical and physical elements, at the cost of her own strength one day tearing herself apart. Cartaphilus' curse prevents her from dying, but offers no protection against injury or decay. Together they "keep each other in check"-- Cartaphilus will keep her alive, the dragon will keep her strong.

A lot of things have happened in the past arc that make it easy to forget the fundamentals of the first season. When the series started, Chise was a few steps away from walking off a roof. Even after she arrived in England, it took a long time before she decided that maybe life wasn't so bad. Her entire life up until that point had been nothing but misery; abandoned and alone, she had no one to protect her from the constant targeting and harassment by both fae and humans alike. She believed that the only way to escape her torment was through death... I think its a facet of her character that goes unfairly unrecognized a lot (especially after the first arc).

When she's in England and is going through her mental/psychological character development, she is still facing the imminent threat of her weak sleigh beggey body constantly failing her. Using magic exacerbates her condition, causing her to be sick and/or incapacitated for significant stretches of time. It's painful, it's uncomfortable, it's frustrating. By the time she realizes she wants to live, her clock is already running quite short.

Her solution is handed to her on a rusted platter. To be "just like everyone else", for once. Finally.

Going to school, hanging out with friends, using magic without it killing her-- all things shes never been able to do before. All thanks to the curses trapped in her. These things that should be considered a horribly tragic fate have now become her salvation. Both physically and mentally, she's the strongest and most resilient she's ever been. Yet, when faced with the idea of liberating herself from her curses...

The curses only work the way they do because they're in sync with each other. Taking away either curse would leave her vulnerable to the other-- the dragon's curse would slowly overwhelm her into a brutally agonizing death, while Cartaphilus' curse would leave her to live and suffer through the constant breaking down of her sleigh beggey body.

When told about the reality of her curses and just how severe they are (not just to her, but to the people around her), she doesn't seem to completely understand what that may mean for herself and her future. Or perhaps, she just doesn't care. After a life where pain and suffering was her "normal", she finally has the means to create something meaningful and positive out of herself. How could that possibly be a bad thing?

She understands on some level that these curses were only ever meant to be temporary. Elias' original goal, to keep Chise alive in spite of her sleigh beggey curse, has not changed. Tacking on two more curses was not a part of the plan, and though they've offered a temporary solution and some time, curses are called curses for a reason. They cannot be relied upon. They've got to go.

But getting rid of those curses (both, or either) essentially puts her back at square one. Back to the pain, discomfort, and illness. She probably won't be able to use magic without hurting herself, too. She's gained freedom in both mind and body for the first time in her life. Sure, she encounters a few hiccups, but considering what she's used to, this is a big step up.

Something has finally given her the power and freedom to spread her wings and fly. Would she be able to clip her own feathers just because that power is "supposed" to be "bad"?

Could she? Could you?

Through it all, everyone she's come across has appointed her curses as a problem. Everyone, except...

[southaway]

"They will die! I will have every last templar for these abuses! Every one of them will feel Justice's burn!"

Anders from Dragon Age II for @luthwhore

I love and hate Dragon Age, the thing about it is it would be so good if it was good. I'll never stop complaining about it and I'll never stop playing it.

[dell-amor-te]

Anyway, thinking about Dragon Age (Taylor’s Version) again, what else is new lately…and not to be all #different…but, like…I don’t buy into this theory going around that Lucanis really died and was brought back somehow and now has Fade powers or is connected so some kind of spirit.

I don’t think it’s a bad theory, don’t get me wrong. I just think, based on “The Wigmaker Job,” that it’s more likely that Lucanis staged his death, not that he actually died. And obviously “The Wake” comes after “The Wigmaker Job,” so whatever his weird headache-behind-the-eye Fade thing predates whatever leads to “The Wake.” Whether it’s a more recent change in his life or something he’s always had…who knows?

If a failed contract means death for a Crow…imagine being the favored grandson of the First Talon and trying to refuse your grandmother. Digital page 327 of “The Wigmaker Job” says:

“Death is my calling,” Lucanis stated, matter-of-fact. “Just as yours is to become First Talon.”

He smiled, hoping to ease the tension, but Illario's posture remained taut. “And if Caterina disagrees? If she thinks you're the better man for the job—”

“I don’t want it, Illario,” Lucanis insisted.

“But you wouldn’t refuse.”

“It’s impossible to refuse Caterina,” Lucanis admitted reluctantly. "Only prolong her, until she sees reason.”

He knew it wasn't the answer Illario wanted, but it was the truth. And in their line of work, honesty was hard to come by.

From what little we know about Caterina, I don’t see her being reasoned out of her favor of Lucanis. Especially given that she trained Lucanis so harshly that he hated her for it for a long time. It seems unlikely she’d bend her intent to name him as her heir, even for her other grandson, when it’s a well-known point or gossip among the Crows that their next First Talon, if things go Caterina’s way—and it seems they normally do—will be Lucanis.

So, while spirit companion Lucanis is a cool theory, I think it’s far more likely that Veilguard is going to show us Lucanis as the Mage Killer it already styled him as, and how he got there. We’ve seen that he’s willing to go out of his way to exact vengeance for victims, while being a Crow is just a job to him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Lucanis faked his death in order to escape Caterina. Or…if that “soft heart” of his put him in a pickle that he turned into an escape route.

Or…maybe Caterina is pushing daisies and somehow Lucanis maneuvered Illario into her place, and Illario made good on his word to give Lucanis free rein.

I won’t pretend to know. But, whatever happened, I don’t think he really died.

And if each companion has a motive for joining the Veilguard and all seven members are all necessary for the success of the group, then Lucanis and his apparent warpath against the Venatori would make a lot of sense in that context.

Which also makes me think that if Lucanis is shown to be guilty of any kind of betrayal, it’s going to be along the lines of a Crow Rook being stunned that he isn’t dead. But that’s a whole different post.

And as for what his weird Fade spidey senses are…maybe there are more instances of that popping up in the world, just like Lace having magic now. Everything is in such a precarious state from the start of Inquisition with the whole Breach issue to now in Veilguard with Solas trying to destroy the Veil, let alone all the other things he has been up to in the nine years in between entries. I would honestly love it if they’re showing the consequences of everything that’s happened in relation to magic in the world manifesting in different ways and in different people.

Anyway…just some of my thoughts so far. I’m not committed to anything right now, of course, and I don’t want to come off as believing I’m right or that I think the spirit companion theory is bad (I don’t), I just wanted to share my own thoughts.

[swevenfox]

Commission / Tarot Style

FF14 - The Death

[neine]

Go read @blakbonnet 's Moonstone Mage Championship!!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[herearedragons]

So I’ve been looking through the Valo-Kas war table missions and… boy, the Valo-Kas lose a lot of people.

I assume that many of them didn’t survive the explosion at the Conclave. There are missions available to Inquisitor Adaar to rescue some survivors, and at least in one of them, the advisor you choose also determines which people come back. So Adaar loses people before the game even begins, and then loses more as Inquisitor - and, no matter which options you choose in the war table missions, at least three Valo-Kas will wind up dead because of Adaar, because some fanatics who believe that the Inquisitor is an agent of the Qun decide to capture and torture the first qunari they saw.

That’s. Uh. That’s messed up.

[froggos-are-superior]

Webtoon screenshots out of context: part 4

[merrybandofmurderers]

honestly, harrowings are probably the chantry's most effective means of culling mages aside from annulments. think about it

a young person who has been imprisoned since childhood, who is taught to hate and fear themselves, and who has been subjected or witness to various abuses, is forced to face a demon (that will use any means to manipulate them) with no preparation and under threat of death

and if they die, absolutely no one asks any questions and no justice can be sought becuz its just,, a normal aspect of the circle